Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys (Catalan pronunciation: , formerly known as the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc) is a stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Originally built in 1927 for the 1929 International Exposition in the city (and Barcelona's bid for the 1936 Summer Olympics, which were awarded to Berlin), it was renovated in 1989 to be the main stadium for the 1992 Summer Olympics. The stadium has a capacity of 55,926 (67,007 during the 1992 Olympics), and is located in the Anella Olímpica, in Montjuïc, a large hill to the southwest of the city which overlooks the harbour.

In 2001 the stadium was renamed after the former president of the Generalitat de Catalunya Lluís Companys i Jover, who was executed at the nearby Montjuïc Castle in 1940 by the Franco regime.

History

The stadium, designed by architect Pere Domènech i Roura for the 1929 Expo, was meant to host the People's Olympiad in 1936, a protest event against the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, but the event had to be cancelled due the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War.

In the fifties, the stadium was the centerpiece of the 1955 Mediterranean Games, and in 1957 it hosted the only national football cup final between FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol, the two local clubs.

In the seventies the stadium was disused, and the stands deteriorated. When the Spanish Grand Prix and other races were held at the Montjuïc racing circuit, the stadium was used as a paddock for the teams. Due to safety concerns, the 1975 F1 race was nearly boycotted by drivers.

Due to the award of the 1992 Summer Olympics to Barcelona, the stadium was renovated with the involvement of Italian architect Vittorio Gregotti. The stadium was gutted, preserving only the original facades, and new grandstands were built. In 1989 the venue was reinaugurated for the World Cup in Athletics, and three years later it hosted the opening and closing ceremonies and the athletics competitions of the Olympic Games.

The stadium served as the home of football club RCD Espanyol from 1997 until 2009. The Estadi Olímpic made its final La Liga appearance during the 2008-2009 season, as Espanyol moved to the newly constructed Estadi Cornellà-El Prat. It also served as the home of the Barcelona Dragons American Football team until 2003. Because the size of the playing surface was slightly shorter than the regulation American Football length, the stadium only had 7-yard end zones, three yards shorter than regulation NFL size.

In 2010, the stadium hosted the 20th European Athletics Championships.

Sport events

1929: Montjuïc hosted Spain's first official rugby international game against Italy. Spain won 9-0.

1930: Copa del Rey final between Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid.

1933: National football cup final between Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid.

1934: National football cup final between Valencia CF and Real Madrid.

1935: Boxing match Paolino Uzcudun vs. Max Schmeling

1939: National football cup final between Sevilla FC and Racing de Ferrol.

1944: National football cup final between Athletic Bilbao and Valencia CF.

1945: National football cup final between Sevilla FC and Racing de Ferrol.

1946: National football cup final between Real Madrid and Valencia CF.

1955: II Mediterranean Games.

1957: National football cup final between FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol.

1989: IAAF World Cup.

1992: Games of the XXV Olympiad.

1997: World Bowl V between Barcelona Dragons and Rhein Fire.

1999: The stadium hosted the Euro 2000 qualifying match between Andorra and then world champions France on 9 June 1999.

2003: World Police and Fire Games.

2004: Copa del Rey final between Real Madrid and Real Zaragoza.

2007-2008: The stadium hosted the Euro 2008 qualifying match between Andorra and England on the 28 March 2007 and also the same fixture on 6 September 2008 for the 2010 World Cup qualifying match.

2009: On Saturday 20 June the Perpignan-based rugby league team, Catalans Dragons lost 12-24 to Warrington Wolves in the first Super League match to be played in Spain, drawing a crowd of over 18,500.

2010: 20th European Athletics Championships.

2011: 2010–11 Heineken Cup quarter-final match between Perpignan and Toulon with a crowd of 55.000.